Common Ground's plans to expand free health clinic in Algiers have been stalled

Plans to expand Common Ground’s free health clinic in Algiers have stalled due to funding issues, but the facility’s director said the project is still on the table.

Susan Poag, The Times-PicayuneA crew works June 7 to demolish the former Greystone Voter's League, 501 Newton St. in Algiers, a rhythm and blues venue during the 1950 and '70s. Common Ground announced in September 2009 it was moving its health clinic at 1400 Teche St. to the site and would raising $1 million to renovate the structure, which was later determined to be past the point of renovating.

In 2009, clinic officials said the group was going to renovate and occupy a former jazz hall at 501 Newton St. by 2010. But that building was demolished this month.

Clinic director Neshawn Tarver said Common Ground was forced to abandon its renovation plans after an architect determined that the building was too unstable. The group had already purchased the property and secured a $400,000 grant for renovations. But that grant had to be returned because it was only applicable to renovations, Tarver said, adding that it is unclear how the group bought a building that was unusable.

“I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why they thought they would be able to renovate that space,” she said.

But Common Ground has not abandoned its plans to build a $1.5 million, three-story, 6,300-square-foot clinic with eight beds, a community garden and teaching kitchen, she said.

“We are still planning to come to that location,” said Tarver, who acknowledged that there is no timetable for the move. “We just don’t have the capital.”

Common Ground opened its clinic after Hurricane Katrina in an old vacant storefront at 1400 Teche St. to assist people who lack health insurance. Tarver said the uninsured constituted about 85 percent of the roughly 4,100 patients the clinic saw in 2010. Although the clinic is currently open just two days a week, the new building would allow the facility to expand to four days a week and likely double its patient load, she said.

“We’re not struggling for patients,” she said.

Tarver acknowledged that it may be difficult to find the funding needed to build the new clinic because of increased competition for grants. The clinic previously paid most of its operating costs through grants, but is now depending on a new program called the Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection. That program reimburses clinics who serve low-income patients without insurance. The clinic has an operating budget of about $2 million.

In an effort to raise money for the new clinic, Common Ground will be sponsoring a “Wellness Fest” on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. at Fox Playground, 1200 L.B. Landry Ave., Algiers.